Hospitality

While there is a stereotype about country music artists, there is enough room for people of all ethnicities, races, and status in life. There are both black and white singers, men and women, young and old, Americans and Australians (like Keith Urban). True country music, or at least what seems to be the most popular on the radio, comes from the South, especially Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia. The media has helped spread country music beyond the South’s borders, with country radio stations also in New York and other big cities. Even children of foreigners who grow up in the South listen to country music. Maybe the reason why it is spreading among people is the country music’s welcoming and warm culture. Southern hospitality is a theme in country music, and it is definitely seen in country music performances. When we went to Love and War in Texas, a woman came up to us and offered us cupcakes. It was her son’s birthday and she decided to share the cupcakes with everyone in the patio watching the performance. We felt very welcome and like we were part of the culture. In all the performances we attended everyone was very courteous, more than we expected from public performances. Even the singer himself came and introduced himself to everyone who went to see him play that evening.

(Zane Williams at Love &War in Texas, interview with insider)